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Confessions of a Flatwound convert...

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#521
I'm a flatwound fan and posted earlier in this thread. Still love them, but have switched back to rounds on my TBC fiver. Just didn't really like the sound of it with the Chromes.

Put DR Lowriders on it and it just brings it to life. The flats stay on the Tribute L2500. Just sound SOOOO good.

Kinda the best of both worlds.
 
#524
Nope, wasn't banned...just got a warning for getting something off my chest.

I've been very busy with my company and most recently a ton of rehearsals with four bands I'm playing with at a local music fest (playing in 4 of 36 bands total over the weekend...not a bad average).

Just had better things to do than hang out here. I typically am on here only when life is a little slower and my bands have some time off. Need to get my fix with bass playing somehow, so I come on here and irritate people for something to do. ;)

I'm still loving the Chromes. They sound better and better every gig. Don't miss roundwounds one bit, not even on songs I previously would have ONLY used them on. I'm a total convert.

I would have put new rounds on at least once, if not twice, in the the time I've played these flats, so they have additional benefits beyond the tone and feel.
 
#525
JSK5String said:
I said I'd post back after gigging with the flats and that audience response would be the final vote. Well, a full dance floor for most of the night answered that question. The band just sounded bigger. The boys in the band said I had more punch than before. The drummer said it was more like a heavyweight boxer punch than a lightweight boxer punch, knock-out potential every time. :smug:

All votes are now counted, the flats are staying...
Click to expand...

That has really been my impression with the flats as well. Just a great solid punch to the mix. Not as 'musical' as they are percussive. For me, flats just seem to mesh with the drums more and create this cohesive, synchronistic punch that drives the music so the other band members can ride on that groove better.

Of course it doesn't hurt that we added two 5000 watt QSC power amps to the rack, which are now driving our JBL SRX728 subs. We've been getting so many compliments on how tight and driving our drums and bass are. Of course, we were getting these comments prior to the new amps too.
 
#526
Sundogue,welcome back ! I don't understand what I could have said to push you to the extreme of name calling..but really don't care. Glad you found your sound. Never did say you were wrong,I think you imagined alot of what I was saying as being directed at you,it never was. Even if I seem condesending ,and have an attitude,is it really your job to correct it ? Peace
 
#527
I have to say that I read the first several posts when this thread started up and at that point, I had never played flats in my life. I am in a classic rock cover band with 2 guitarists, a keyboardist, powerful singer and loud drummer (and everyone sings backup) and I did notice that alot of the nuances from my bass (a Ric 4003) that I loved when playing solo, were getting buried because of too much competition for frequencies.

It still sounded good, but I was competing too much with the guitars and keys. I decided to try out some Chromes so I ordered the cheapest I could find online. I just put them on my bass and havent been to practice yet, but so far I think I am really liking them!

I really like how it sounds much smoother when you are playing higher up on the neck. With the rounds it always sounded harsh. I was surprised that they have alot of zing to them and its not all "thud". They felt a little sticky to my plucking hand, hopefully that goes away. I cant wait until practice this weekend to see how it goes with the full band playing!

So, I may be a flats convert myself!
 
#528
Fast Fret gets rid of the stickiness.

jgroh said:
I have to say that I read the first several posts when this thread started up and at that point, I had never played flats in my life. I am in a classic rock cover band with 2 guitarists, a keyboardist, powerful singer and loud drummer (and everyone sings backup) and I did notice that alot of the nuances from my bass (a Ric 4003) that I loved when playing solo, were getting buried because of too much competition for frequencies.

It still sounded good, but I was competing too much with the guitars and keys. I decided to try out some Chromes so I ordered the cheapest I could find online. I just put them on my bass and havent been to practice yet, but so far I think I am really liking them!

I really like how it sounds much smoother when you are playing higher up on the neck. With the rounds it always sounded harsh. I was surprised that they have alot of zing to them and its not all "thud". They felt a little sticky to my plucking hand, hopefully that goes away. I cant wait until practice this weekend to see how it goes with the full band playing!

So, I may be a flats convert myself!
Click to expand...
 
#531
Long yes but very well put. You've learned a lot.
Personally I've always hated rounds on a bass. Used halfs for years and now flats and just love them. Very nice for slides too. It's what a bass should sound like, an electrified upright. Unless your a slap funk groove monster. I don't slap, save for a pull up slap on a string here and there. More of a chicken picken I suppose. But that comes from my guitard side. Hmm which is worse a guitard or a basstard.
 
#532
So tonight reitierated my love for flatwounds! At my church, we had a fundraiser for our Appalachian Service Project trip this summer. It was a coffeehouse, with a band. Well I was the only bass player, and it was a total of 4 hours long! We were playing Christian parodies of Classic Rock tunes (Boston, Chicago, CCR, etc) and I brought both of my basses (Squier Affinity Jazz V and Precision), both of which are strung with D'Addario Chromes. I LOVE these strings. My fingers are a little sore, but they would be bleeding with those newfangled big guitar strings :D Rock on!
 
#533
I just played a gig this weekend with a bunch of bands for a music festival that went on all weekend.

Lots of musicians from 36 bands. We all hung out and talked as the day and night went on. There were so many bass players from other bands that came up to me and complimented me on my sound and asked what kind of bass I was playing (an uncommon Washburn 5 string).

We were all playing through the same backline bass rig (Fender head and two 410's) and PA. All of them said my bass had a great, full sound to it. Overall, most comments were about how tight our rhythm section sounded tonally and asked what I did differently with my bass that stood out among most other bassist's sound.

When I told them I was playing flatwounds (and judging from comments I must have been just about the only one) the responses were that of surprise and intrigue. Many asked how my bass sounded so clean and bright when they expected flats to sound dull or muddy. At least half of those I talked with said they wanted to give flats a try.

Interesting that we all played through the same rig and PA, yet many said my tone stood out among others. Obviously we all played different basses and we all have our own style, but it's pretty cool to be playing with flats and be the "unique" sounding bass player among a herd of clones. Who'd have thought using flats would make one stand out?

Just an observation I thought I'd share.
 
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#534
i went & saw an ex-drummer over the weekend play with a new band

the bass player had a cobbled together rig, ( like a B2RE, some kind of SRW cab & a Mesa cab, playing an old Ibanez bass, after the introductions were made, i said nice rig ( :rollno: ) he said thanks, i like it

they started playing & i'm thinking WHERE'S THE BEEF ?

there was no lowend whatsoever, could tell he was playing rounds & could hear some things that he was playing on the E string, but the AD & G strings totally dropped out of the mix

next band, same result :eek:

question,,,, are these guys clueless as to what they actually sound like live ?

i know that pickups with an even string to string response & Flats would totally cure alot of what i heard, ( or should i say, what i didn't hear )

i've actually got a 30ft cord that i use at soundcheck to actually listen to the tone i'm putting out to the paying public

it matters 'yall :smug:
 
#535
NorCal Dog said:
i went & saw an ex-drummer over the weekend play with a new band

the bass player had a cobbled together rig, ( like a B2RE, some kind of SRW cab & a Mesa cab, playing an old Ibanez bass, after the introductions were made, i said nice rig ( :rollno: ) he said thanks, i like it

they started playing & i'm thinking WHERE'S THE BEEF ?

there was no lowend whatsoever, could tell he was playing rounds & could hear some things that he was playing on the E string, but the AD & G strings totally dropped out of the mix

next band, same result :eek:

question,,,, are these guys clueless as to what they actually sound like live ?

i know that pickups with an even string to string response & Flats would totally cure alot of what i heard, ( or should i say, what i didn't hear )

i've actually got a 30ft cord that i use at soundcheck to actually listen to the tone i'm putting out to the paying public

it matters 'yall :smug:
Click to expand...

While I am a huge proponent of flatwounds, they don't work in all situations and there certainly is a need (not just a want) for rounds.

I'm also a firm believer that if your tone totally sucks with rounds it ain't going to be improved using flats. Flats don't make anything better, just different...which may be better for a given situation, but they aren't going to make a lousy sounding bass sound good.

String choice plays only one small part in how a bass sounds. All things begin equal I do feel flats can help (depending on what one is looking for in their sound), but it sounds to me like those bass players you listened to didn't have a clue about anything and I doubt flats would have done anything for them.

We run our own PA for all of our own gigs (save for this multi-band festival) and I have a wireless so not only can I go out for sound checks, but also during the gig.
 
#537
Sundogue said:
While I am a huge proponent of flatwounds, they don't work in all situations and there certainly is a need (not just a want) for rounds.

I'm also a firm believer that if your tone totally sucks with rounds it ain't going to be improved using flats. Flats don't make anything better, just different...which may be better for a given situation, but they aren't going to make a lousy sounding bass sound good.

String choice plays only one small part in how a bass sounds. All things begin equal I do feel flats can help (depending on what one is looking for in their sound), but it sounds to me like those bass players you listened to didn't have a clue about anything and I doubt flats would have done anything for them.

We run our own PA for all of our own gigs (save for this multi-band festival) and I have a wireless so not only can I go out for sound checks, but also during the gig.
Click to expand...
The Truth ! Flats do not work in all settings. I just did a weekend with a Blues band. Every song I played for the band, the Bass was originally recorded with flats. I took two Basses,both P's,one with flats and one with rounds. I used the P with with rounds for most songs. We played a huge room,and the flats got lost lost. May work for some,not for me.
 
#540
MarkusBass said:
Here you go.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Click to expand...

I the flats held up nicely on the A,D,and G string..a lil more 'there' than the rounds.
On the slap mp3 the flats held their own though not as beautifully raucous as
the rounds.

That is why outside of Chromes.... I think i am even liking tapes the best.... we'll see if the band likes tape at the next rehearsal-- they may still prefer Chromes though.
As one TB'er said on this thread -- "one thing directors hate is a bassist who has a bass that cant do all sounds"....I have to play 50's to 90's R&R and Soul on one instrument. And sometimes there is only room for 1 axe on stage. My Geddy Lee with Chromes (who'd a thought that) is the one i use (and the drummer loves).
 
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